Sakai Takayuki 180mm Kiritsuke Deba - White #2 (Shirogami #2 ) Carbon Steel

A Traditional Deba with a Distinctive Kiritsuke Profile

Not every Deba needs to follow the conventional form.

The traditional Japanese Deba is one of the essential tools of professional fish preparation — substantial, powerful, and purpose-built for breaking down fish.

The Sakai Takayuki 180mm Kiritsuke Deba takes that established form and gives it a distinctive character.

Its defining feature is immediately visible: the substantial body of a traditional Deba combined with the sharply angled tip of a Kiritsuke-style profile.

It is an unusual interpretation of the Deba — retaining the strength and authority expected from this traditional Japanese knife while introducing a sharper, more distinctive silhouette.

The Strength of a Deba. The Character of a Kiritsuke.

At its foundation, this remains a true 180mm Japanese Deba.

The substantial spine and heel provide the weight and stability required for serious fish preparation, including breaking down whole fish, separating joints, and working around smaller bones.

Where this knife becomes different is toward the front of the blade.

Instead of the familiar profile of a conventional Deba, it finishes in a distinctive Kiritsuke-style angular tip.

This gives the knife a noticeably different character and greater precision toward the tip, while preserving the substantial construction that defines a Deba.

For chefs who already understand and appreciate the traditional Deba, but want something beyond the conventional profile, this is what makes the knife particularly compelling.

White #2 Steel — A Classic Choice for Traditional Japanese Knives

The cutting core is made from White #2 (Shirogami #2) carbon steel, one of the classic steels associated with traditional Japanese professional cutlery.

White #2 is valued for its ability to take an exceptionally keen edge and for its clean, responsive feeling on Japanese whetstones.

For chefs and sharpeners who care not only about initial sharpness, but also about how an edge can be refined, maintained, and brought back over years of professional use, Shirogami #2 remains a highly respected choice.

As a carbon steel, it is reactive and requires proper drying and maintenance after use. In return, it offers the sharpening response and cutting character for which traditional carbon-steel Japanese knives continue to be valued.

Traditional Single-Bevel Geometry

This Kiritsuke Deba features a traditional right-handed single-bevel construction, preserving the geometry and control expected from a professional Japanese Deba.

The substantial heel and body provide the authority needed for fish butchery, while the narrower forward section and angular Kiritsuke-style tip give the blade its distinctive versatility and character.

Importantly, the different sections of a Deba are intended for different types of work.

The fine Kiritsuke-style tip should not be used to forcefully chop through hard or thick bones, as excessive lateral force or impact may damage the tip.

Traditional Sakai Construction

The knife is finished with a traditional magnolia wood handle and water buffalo horn ferrule, a classic combination widely used on quality Sakai wa-handled knives.

Rather than being decorative for its own sake, the simple traditional handle keeps the focus where it belongs — on balance, control, and the blade itself.

Made in Sakai, Osaka, Japan

Made in Sakai, Osaka, this knife draws upon the specialist craftsmanship that has defined Sakai cutlery for generations.

There are many traditional Deba knives.

There are far fewer that retain the fundamental character of a professional Deba while presenting it in such a distinctive form.

For the chef who appreciates what a traditional Deba can do, but is looking for something beyond the conventional profile, the Sakai Takayuki 180mm Kiritsuke Deba offers a compelling alternative — White #2 carbon steel, traditional single-bevel geometry, and an unmistakable Kiritsuke-style profile in one serious professional tool.

Specifications

Brand: Sakai Takayuki
Knife Type: Kiritsuke Deba
Blade Length: 180mm
Steel: White #2 / Shirogami #2 Carbon Steel
Construction: Traditional Single-Bevel
Handedness: Right-Handed
Handle: Magnolia Wood with Water Buffalo Horn Ferrule
Origin: Sakai, Osaka, Japan